Background and aims: Recent studies have shown that nuclear factor-kappa B/RelA (NF-kappa B/RelA) is involved in tumor angiogenesis. This study examined whether NF-kappa B/RelA expression is associated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density in human colorectal cancer.
Materials and methods: Ten specimens from normal colorectal mucosa and 52 colorectal adenocarcinomas were obtained by surgery or endoscopy. Immunohistochemical expression of NF-kappa B/RelA, VEGF, and CD34 was detected on paraffin-embedded tissue sections.
Results: NF-kappa B/RelA and VEGF were significantly overexpressed and associated with microvessel density in colorectal cancer. A significant association was found between NF-kappa B/RelA and VEGF expression. Clinicopathological features were not correlated with NF-kappa B/RelA, VEGF expression, or microvessel density.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that increased expression of NF-kappa B/RelA contributes to tumor angiogenesis in colorectal cancer. VEGF may play an important role in mediating the NF-kappa B/RelA angiogenic pathway.